Category: Guide and tips

Replacing a car battery should always be on your car maintenance schedule because the process is easy. In the united states today even I the times of untrusted batteries we still have three companies that produces most batteries that are maintenance free– Delphi, Exide and Johnson Controls Industries. These companies are the manufacturers of the batteries but are marketed under different names. What really matters in a battery is not the name on it, what matters most is the age, cold cranking amps, group size and reserve capacity.

Group size: this determines the outer dimension of the battery and where their terminals are. When buying a battery make sure the group size matches the one of the battery you are replacing or else you end up buying a battery that your car can’t use. Luckily most battery retailers arrange their batteries in sequence like make of the car, the year they can be used for and the model.

Cold cranking amps: This is shows the ability of the battery to start a car at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius), when the chemical potential of the battery is low and the engine oil is thick. During cold weather, the higher the CCA the higher the chance for it to start. This is usually on the sticker of most car batteries as either CA, or cranking amps. This is measured at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) and most times a higher number. However, it does not give 100% accuracy when assessing the ability of the car to start in a cold weather.

Age: all batteries have a set date by the manufacturer on them and those batteries should be sold within six months of the set date. Before buying a battery make sure to check the dates. At times the dates are written in codes. Mostly the coded dates starts with an alphabet that indicates the month—for instance A for January, B for February, C for march and so on, and the years are represented in numbers like 0 for 2000, 1 for 2001 and on.

Reserve capacity: finding this number on a battery is the most useful but difficult. It shows you the amount of time your car can run using only the battery power should incase the alternator dies. This number is usually found in the battery manual at the store or online but rarely on the battery itself.

Carefully go through the rules and follow them then you should be able to go through the worst you battery can bring and also get a more reliable one when needed.

Winter mornings can be problematic for you when trying to start your car. Living in those cold areas like Salt Lake City or Pittsburgh this can be a problem that creeps in every morning when you try to start your car. One of the reasons cars won’t start in winter is because car batteries hate the cold. Chemical batteries produce less electric power or current when it is cold. In winter your car engine oil will become thicker and it will not flow well as needed and this will require your car battery to do much more work in getting your car started. Other reasons why your car won’t start in winter include Carburetor issue especially for the cars that were there before the mid-1980s, Moisture in the fuel lines. Here are some of the solutions you can apply to help start your car easily during winter.

Keep your Car warm

Ensuring that you park your car in a garage will help keep your battery warm than it could be if parked in an open place. If you park in a heated garage the better for your battery to stay warm during the cold season and this will help you start your car easily when you start using it. In winter places using battery heaters or engine block heater can help keep the car engine warm, these heaters are readily found in harsh climates. Engine block heater is easily plugged into an electrical outlet to maintain warm temperatures around the engine and keep the oil flowing well together with the other fluids. Fixing a battery Wrap or blanket around your battery can help with heating and keeping your car battery warm as well.

Jump start your Car

When you find your car, won’t start in the cold weather, you can jump-start your battery to have the car start easily. To do this you will need to have best jump starter, you also use the jumper cables and someone with a car that is running well to help jump start your battery or simply equip a jump starter along. After jump starting your battery let it run for about 20 minutes before starting your car. This will help give your dead battery some current to help start your car easily in winter. Check out for corrosion or even spoiled cables in your battery that could be hindering the flow of electricity. Clean all the cables and clamps then try starting your car again. If the battery won’t come alive the only solution now would be to replace it and get a new battery that won’t be problematic during winter when starting your car. When replacing your battery, wear protective glasses and gloves. The acid in car batteries may give hazardous hydrogen gas when handled wrongly.

Use a lightweight oil

During winter car engine oil can become a very big problem because in cold weather the engine oil becomes thicker and it doesn’t flow well and this calls for a lighter oil. Lightweight oil flows easily in cold weather. Using lightweight oil will help in starting your car easily during cold times. By checking your owner’s manual, you will be able to choose the right oil Viscosity for winter. Having a new oil filter during winter will come in handy when starting your car. The filter should be able to remove the smallest particle from the oil while offering least resistance to the oil flow.

Check for blocked fuel lines

In a situation where water gets into the fuel lines during winter, the fuel lines will freeze so much and fast. When the gas level goes below the half tank, the tank fills with air and the moisture in the air freezes into ice and this clogs the lines. This situation can happen overnight or just a few hours when the car is left in the cold. One of the common causes of a car not starting easily in the morning is frozen fuel line. You can defrost your fuel lines by rubbing some alcohol on them, always keep a spray bottle in your boot to help defrost in winter. Pushing or towing your car to the nearest garage to have the fuel lines unfrozen would help your car to start faster.

Fill your Gas tank during Winter

Ensuring that your tank is filled or at the right levels during winter will help in starting your car easily. Low volumes of fuel during winter may lead to problems while starting your car because when starting your car in the morning during winter the car uses 40% of fuel more than the usual warm days. Always checking and refilling your gas tank during winter will ensure correct levels of fuel and protect you from unseen problems of not being able to start the next day.

Riding a motorcycle is a great recreational activity. If you enjoy the great outdoors and extreme sports, taking risks and racing through difficult tracks, a race bike might be all you need. It will bring you great exhilaration and give you quite the adrenaline rush. Alternatively, if a more relaxed time outdoors is what you seek, a motorcycle ride down the countryside might be all you need.

Without the right safety measures, however, a motorcycle ride can turn fatally dangerous in an instant. Following the recognized safety rules, and having the right gear with every motorcycle ride is necessary to protect you from harm. That’s why you need to know the measures to take to ensure you are safe while riding. These are the seven essential measures to keep you safe while on a motorbike.

1. Get the Right Experience and Training

It will not help your case being a novice motorcyclist. Unfortunately, this is the case with most people on the road today – the ones caught up in accidents anyway. For such riders, they become extra vulnerable because they are not fully proficient. They cannot handle the bike well enough and neither can they ride their way in high traffic roads.

It will serve you well to know the basics. For this reason, ensure you have the right training and that you take short proficiency courses frequently. It might be the difference between you and the next motorbike accident victim.

2. Ensure you are Properly Dressed

In the event of an accident, there is very little to shield you from impact with any hard surface. It is for this reason that many wearables have been developed to protect you should an accident occur. There are specialized boots, jackets, shin guards and helmets made for riders. Also, caps exist to protect your shoulders, knees and even kidneys.

Obviously, you might not need to put on all these protective clothing for a simple ride. You should, nevertheless, always wear a heavy jacket, boots, and a helmet every time you take the bike out for a spin. This will ensure you protect yourself from falls, road rash, and other injuries.

3. Have a Roadworthy Bike

An un-roadworthy bike might be a fast ticket out of this earth. If you are not ready to leave us just yet, be always advised to maintain your vehicle properly. For owners, carry out regular checks on your motorcycle to ensure it is functioning properly.

When hiring a bike too, please note that the bikes on offer by most rental companies leave plenty to be desired. More often than not, they are poorly maintained. You should, thus, always be extra observant before hiring a motorcycle. Check the tire threads, oiling, and every other aspect of the bike carefully. Safety will always begin with you. These rental companies charge inflated rates for any repairs on the bike that may arise from damages. Scrutiny of the motorcycle will ensure you do not accept any unnecessary liability later.

4. Have the Right Helmet

Protective gear is key during motorcycle riding. Unfortunately, most people ignore this fact and realize it too late. The helmet is an essential protective gear. Always carefully consider one before jumping on a motorcycle.

Most rental companies do not give perfectly safe helmets for use. These helmets are often of a low quality and from light and thin material. In the event of an accident, such a helmet may not help prevent serious injuries. If you are a regular motorcyclist, it is advisable to invest in your helmet. Its strength and quality are assured.

On the road, the helmet should be tied up tightly to ensure it does not slip off. This will reduce the likelihood of head injuries severe traumas in case an accident occurs. Additionally, always make sure your helmet is in perfect condition and wear it at all times when riding a motorcycle.

5. Get the Right Insurance Cover

Many motorcyclists have no clue what insurance cover to get their bikes. On the occurrence of an accident, they are forced to meet extra unnecessary costs. This due to the insufficient protection their insurance policy provides.

To avoid this, you should have adequate information on the various covers available. Unfortunately, there are only a few insurance providers offering motorcycle insurance. Despite this, you need to have a plan to get covered. Doing so will shield you from huge and burdensome hospital bills you might incur after an accident. Also, remember to be careful on the road and be covered by the right insurance policy in case of anything.

6. Familiarize yourself With the Local Roads

A lot of riders suffer accidents for not being familiar with the roads they use. Uneven surfaces and pothole have been the cause of many an accident before. Encountering manhole covers, oil and petrol leaks plus loose road surfaces have, also, contributed to this.

With a few precautions though, you can significantly reduce accident risks from unfamiliar roads and uneven road surfaces. Firstly, ensure you remain within indicated speed limits when riding on unfamiliar roads. You will allow yourself more time to react and maneuver around road hazards along the way. Check the tires, also, to ensure they are inflated to the pressure recommended. The depth of the tire tread should, as well, be within the legal limits. It would be better to replace worn out tires than to meet the repair and hospital costs after an accident.

7. Be mindful of Other Road Users

In a considerable number of accidents involving motorcycles, the bikers themselves were not at fault. To avoid not getting caught up in such an accident, don’t drive too close to another vehicle on the road. Leaving enough space between you and the next car allows you time to react in the event of anything unordinary happens. If the car behind is, also, driving too close to you, create more room for yourself in front, to allow you to compensate.

With the safety measures above you will certainly be assured a better riding experience with fewer risks. As such, your experience outdoors will remain fruitful and fun. Happy days for you and friends all around.